Intruder Shot, Killed After Entering Pleasant Hill Apartment Tuesday

A man neighbors said had been “behaving strangely” in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Shadow Mountain Court in Pleasant Hill was shot and killed by a resident who reportedly opened fire when the man broke into his residence.

The dead man was identified Wednesday as 46-year-old John Kruetz of Pleasant Hill.

The incident was reported at 5:45 p.m. and quickly energized the neighborhood as frantic residents called police to report on Kruetz’s antics, exacerbated as he reportedly began to pound on windows and doors in the area.

“I didn’t see it, but I heard some of it,” said a man who gave his name only as Chris. “There was some shouting and yelling and then I heard shots, I think they were shots… and then there was nothing but sirens.”

Pleasant Hill police said they heard “a number” of gunshots upon arrival, locating Kruetz in the living room of a home down with a gunshot wound to the head. The incident was also overheard by 911 dispatchers who had taken a call for help from the targeted residence. Kruetz was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek where he was pronounced deceased.

Investigators said involved parties and witnesses “remained on scene and have been cooperative.” No other suspects are being sought in the matter and it was not immediately known if Kruetz and the homeowner knew one another.